Compare nine countries
Ownership, local officers, capital, tax and filing deadlines, side by side.
| HK | PH | SG | MY | TH | VN | KH | PK | IN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign ownership | Up to 100% | Up to 100% in many sectors; US$200k paid-in if >40% foreign and domestic-market | Up to 100% | No general cap; sector rules | Foreign-majority services usually need a license | Open unless on closed/conditional list | Up to 100% (no land) | Up to 100% in most sectors | 100% automatic route in most sectors |
| Resident director needed | No | No (treasurer must be resident) | Yes, at least 1 | Yes, at least 1 | No | Legal representative must reside in VN | No | Not found | Yes, at least 1 (182+ days) |
| Local company secretary | Required (HK-resident) | Required (PH citizen and resident) | Required (SG-resident) | Required (MY citizen/PR, qualified) | Not required (private company) | No; chief accountant or outsourced accounting | Required (since Dec 2025) | Not covered in our notes | Not covered in our notes |
| Minimum capital | None | None generally; FIA thresholds apply | None | None (sector licenses may require) | THB 2m if foreign-majority | None generally; contribute within 90 days | No meaningful minimum | None | None |
| Typical incorporation time | About 1 hour online | Same day (OneSEC) + weeks for BIR/LGU | Same day if no referral | Online via SSM4U | DBD e-Registration | ERC first, IRC within 12 months | About 8 working days | Same day to a few days | 1-3 weeks |
| Headline corporate tax | 8.25% / 16.5% (territorial) | 25% (20% small) | 17% | 24% (SME 15-17%) | 20% (SME 0-20%) | 20% (15-17% small) | 20% | 29% (small 20%) | 22-30% + surcharge |
| VAT / GST | None | 12% (above ₱3m) | 9% (above S$1m) | Service tax 8% (above RM500k) | 7% to Sep 2027 (above THB 1.8m) | 10% (8% to end-2026) | 10% (all companies) | 18% goods; provincial on services | 5% / 18% / 40% |
| Audit | Every company | Above thresholds | Exempt if small company | Unless exempt (PD 10/2024) | Every company | Required for foreign-invested | QIPs and larger companies | Unless paid-up up to Rs 1m (private) | Every company |
| Annual return | 42 days after anniversary | GIS within 30 days of annual meeting | 7 months after year-end | 30 days after anniversary | Shareholder list 14 days after AGM | Financial statements 90 days after year-end | MOC declaration 3 months after anniversary | 30 days after AGM | 60 days after AGM |
| Website disclosure rule | Company name on website (Cap. 622B) | Online retailers: name, address, phone, email on homepage | Name and UEN on publications (website arguably) | Name and registration no. on website | None found | Selling sites publish operator details | None found | s.22: name, office, contacts on publications | Home page: name, office, CIN, contacts, grievance contact |
| Our help at launch | Account help | Account help + SEC/LGU filings | Account help | Account help | Information and referrals | Information and referrals | Account help | Account help (+ clearance doc prep planned) | Account help |
Simplified for comparison. See each country page for detail and sources. Last checked: Oct 2026.